Will it be Kelvin Beachum or Levi Brown this Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers at left tackle against the New York Jets? According to offensive coordinator Todd Haley Thursday during his weekly media session, that decision has yet to be made.
“We’re working Kelvin Beachum in there, obviously, and they’re all getting work,” said Haley. “We’re trying to get them all better and ready to go.”
Brown, who has had all of four practices with his new team since being acquired via a trade last week from the Arizona Cardinals, is trying to pick up the offense and terminology as fast as he can and Haley lauded him Thursday for the effort he’s making.
“He’s doing a good job,” said Haley, who was with the Cardinals in 2007 when Brown was selected by them fifth-overall that year in the draft. “There is some carryover for him I think. Not a ton, but he’s a smart guy that has come in here and worked and is trying to get himself ready to go.”
According to Haley, Brown has a nasty temperament to him when he was asked about his demeanor and if true, the Steelers offensive line could certainly use it as that characteristic seems to be lacking now that Willie Colon is no longer in Pittsburgh.
“Not somebody that you’re always real comfortable going up to and asking a lot of questions,” Haley said while smiling.
Haley didn’t rule out both Brown and Beachum playing Sunday against the Jets and with the status of left guard Ramon Foster still sort of up in the air despite him saying he thinks he will play, we might not know for sure who will start until just before kickoff. Regardless, Haley knows quite a bit about Brown and thinks he will fit right in.
“I think he’s a veteran that’s played in the league that I have some familiarity with, obviously,” said Haley. “It’s another body that’s done it. On top of that, he’s a demeanor-type player that you like, and is a Pittsburgh Steelers type of guy.”
